The Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall, the 2009 NCAA Champions, open the 2010 season where they ended the last—on top of the polls. The Dips took 15 of the 20 first-place votes to nip 2009 runner-up Salisbury for the top spot in the rankings. The Sea Gulls, who earned three first-place votes, come in at second, while F&M’s conference rival Gettysburg received two top votes and starts off in third in the poll.

The NESCAC leads all conferences with five schools in the rankings, including three in the top-10. No. 6 Middlebury leads the way, followed by Tufts at No. 7 and Colby at No. 10. Williams comes in at No. 12 and Trinity follows at No. 15. The Liberty League claims three schools, including No. 4 Hamilton and No. 9 Union in the top-10 and No. 14 William Smith.

Three conferences have two schools each in the rankings, including the SUNYAC, the Empire 8, and the ODAC. Cortland (No. 13) and Buffalo State (No. 20) represent the SUNYAC, while Stevens (No. 16) and St. John Fisher (No. 18) come from the Empire 8. The ODAC boasts No. 17 Roanoke and No. 19 Washington & Lee.

The Lions of TCNJ represent the NJAC and come in at No. 5, while the Cardinals of Catholic are ranked at No. 8 and come from the Landmark Conference and the Babson Beavers from the NEWMAC sit at No. 11.